2027 UCA Undergraduate Prospectus

UNDERGRADUATE PROSPECTUS 2027

THINK CREATIVE INDUSTRIES THINK UCA

A CREATIVE CHOICE IS A CAREER CHOICE

At University for the Creative Arts, we turn passions into professions. In the UK alone, the creative industries are worth £124 billion and support 2.4 million jobs – more than construction, more than financial services.

Our graduates have worked on Stranger Things and Star Wars, with Netflix, Disney, BBC, and HBO. Won BAFTAs and Golden Globes. Designed with Adidas, Mulberry, and Levi’s. Thousands more are building careers in agencies, studios, start-ups, and independent practices all of their own.

They didn’t wait until they had it all figured out. They started with curiosity – and grew into confidence.

They’ll tell you that UCA was where it all began to feel real. Where their passion became their profession. Where a creative choice became a career choice.

Everyone you see in this prospectus, across our adverts, and on our billboards, is a creative studying at UCA. They listened to their hearts. They followed their dreams. Now it’s your turn.

UNDERGRADUATE PROSPECTUS 2027

THINK CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

THINK UCA

WELCOME

We’re your Vice-Chancellors, Mark and Melanie. We’re here to make sure you have the freedom, support, and direction to discover just how much you’re capable of – and how to turn your passion into a meaningful career that lasts a lifetime.

Because your creativity doesn’t fit in a neat little box. You’ll have a million ideas while you’re here. At UCA, you can explore every single one of them, as much as you need to, until you find the one you love.

Our tutors will teach, mentor, and guide you through every moment of your creative discovery. They’ll find the time and make the space to help you with your decisions, big and small.

And our students – young creatives just like you – are diverse. You can be exactly who you are here, you don’t need to change anything or explain yourself to anybody. You won’t just fit in at UCA, you’ll belong – from day one.

Here’s our promise to you, as Vice-Chancellors: we will support you to find your voice, your art, and your future. We’ll open your mind and equip you to think and create to your heart’s content. With those skills, you’ll be able to build a life that sustains and delights you – creatively, professionally, forever.

Because at UCA, a creative choice is a career choice.

Professor Mark Ellul & Professor Melanie Gray

Your Joint Acting Vice-Chancellors

COURSE DIRECTORY

All courses, except BA (Hons) Architecture, offer a Professional Practice Year. An Integrated Foundation Year option is available on many UCA undergraduate degrees, check our website course pages for more details.

UCAS codes for 4/5 year courses including Integrated Foundation and/or Professional Practice Years are different to the codes below and are available via ucas.com

Please note: in this prospectus, you’ll see testimonies from graduates whose courses have changed title over the years, and we’ve indicated these with ** next to those course names.

For more information and the latest list of our current courses, visit uca.ac.uk

WHY UCA?

Creativity isn’t something that we teach, it’s our DNA. We’ve been training artists, painters, architects, and fashion designers for 170 years. And we still train them today, alongside modern creatives like gamemakers, film directors, graphic designers, social media creators, and more.

What this means is that every part of UCA comes from a creative heritage. You’ll never need to fight for your art, explain your dreams, or justify the way you think. We get it and we get you.

Everyone who tutors here – from course lecturers to specialist technicians – brings decades of expertise and advice from their time spent in the creative sector.

Our campuses are calm enough for focus and reflection, yet close enough to London and major creative centres to stay inspired, connected and ambitious. We’ll give you the space to explore your passion, the skills to turn it into a profession, and the mindset to forge a rewarding, creative future that lasts a lifetime.

Do what you love, every single day.

Our campuses are bursting with places, spaces, and equipment that lets you play, grow, and develop your craft.

A PLAYGROUND FOR YOUR IMAGINATION A PLATFORM FOR YOUR FUTURE

Turn your passion into your profession.

We’ll give you opportunities to train your skills in the real world, setting you up for a career in the creative industries.

A PLACE TO BELONG

Come to UCA exactly the way you are.

Be loud, be quiet, be bold, be curious. Be anything you want to be.

UCA STARS

Dearest creatives,

How exciting to know you are about to embark on the same path as I did into the creative industries –and how wonderful that you are considering UCA, my old university.

My mother also taught here, and I found out for myself what UCA had to offer, learning so much along the way. It gave me the perfect grounding for the career I’ve been blessed to have, and I have such fond memories.

The creative industries are always changing – they are dynamic, moving with the times. Creatives like you and I are always seeking to challenge norms, find solutions to the issues that we face today, and bring something fresh and exciting to our craft. It takes passion, dedication, and skill – and at UCA, you’ll find all the support, freedom, and facilities you need to discover and develop these attributes.

Whatever you are going to study, make sure you focus on getting people to sit up and notice you and your work – and, most importantly, just keep going!

Dame Zandra Rhodes Fashion and textiles designer

Chancellor Emerita

Photography by Gene Nocon

OUR ALUMNI

Gareth Edwards BA (Hons) Film & Video**

Film director Jurassic World Rebirth

“My best friend was studying computer animation. I was doing film, and we combined our graduation films together. If I hadn’t met him or interacted with other students to discover other aspects of filmmaking, I wouldn’t have got into visual effects or ended up with the career I’ve had.”

Grace Palma BA (Hons) Acting & Performance**

Actress Dogman

“UCA is a really sweet, calm, safe place where I could experiment and explore without any pressure.”

Kate Herron BA (Hons) Film Production

Director Loki, The Last of Us

“Before I started, I loved cinema but didn’t understand the inner workings of making a story come to life. UCA gave me this foundation, and taught me how to lead, and work with a team.”

Marvel Studios/Disney

StillMoving.net for Disney

Artist and afro hair artist for television and editorial

Author, presenter and LGBTQIA advocate

“I did lots of experimenting, developing my own mark-making and finding my own voice. I still use some of the techniques I used back then.”

“We had an amazing tutor who taught me that, while you might see something in your design as a mistake, others may not. I still use that knowledge in everything I do.”

“We benefited from so many amazing guests, resources and industry projects. The course felt fresh, invigorating and exciting. As a freelancer now, I can see that my UCA course really prepared me for the job market.”

Paul Robinson BA (Hons) Fine Art

Artist LUAP

Ben Pechey BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion & Imaging**

Kreszend Sackey BA (Hons) Fashion Design

“I always assumed making games would be a part-time hobby. I’d work a normal job and make games in my spare time. At best, maybe join a little indie studio. But now, now I want to lead teams in building Triple-A games for the world market.”

“Originally, I wanted to be (and just assumed I’d be) a freelance artist. Now I know I’ve got so much more potential, I’m more of a people-person than I thought. I’m looking into galleries that I can work in, to work on the marketing side of things, or perhaps stewarding to show guests art. I’ve loved my experience in that, I’m more than an artist.”

Sam Lodge BA (Hons) Games Design

Lie Walters BA (Hons) Fine Art

“My college tutors told me I didn’t have the subjects or the grades for architecture. Three years later, I was headhunted by a firm directly from my final exam hall. Now I’ve been accepted by the University of Cambridge to do my Masters.”

“A few years ago, I never thought I’d be able to show my work to professionals. My confidence wouldn’t have been up to it – but I’ve recently pitched my work to Creative & Art Directors at Supermassive Games. It’s such a thrill and I’m so proud of myself and my classmates! We’ve all come so far, together.”

Ellie Crawford BA (Hons) Architecture

Josie Smith BA (Hons) Comic & Concept Art

“AT UCA, I NEVER FELT ISOLATED. IT WAS SO WELCOMING, AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO BE OURSELVES.”

Thapar BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion & Imaging**

Fashion Leader

Jay

“ALL YOU NEED AT UCA IS PASSION, YOU DON’T NEED A BACKGROUND IN FASHION. WE DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING WHEN WE ARRIVED.

UCA IS SO GOOD AT HELPING YOU EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE SO THAT, BY THE END, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.”

Siân

Lewis BA (Hons) Fashion Management & Marketing**

Senior Sustainability Executive Nobody’s Child

BUILD A CREATIVE CAREER THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

Your creativity doesn’t need to be a hobby, a part-time interest, or something for your evenings and weekends. We’re here to turn your passion into your profession – not your side hustle.

That doesn’t just mean making you employable, it’s about giving you the right mindset to follow through with your creative expression. Because in this sector, whether you want to be part of something bigger or set up your own thing –you need to be resilient, confident in your vision, and able to challenge the way things have always been done. Here’s how we turn your talent into your career:

01 Live industry briefs

Work with real clients, customers, and experts on briefs set by industry partners.

Collaborate on designs, respond to proposals, and get a taste of what the creative sector really wants from you.

02 Real world experience

Start building your contacts and your CV by working in the industry during your degree.

From two weeks to whole year placements, show what you’re made of to potential future employers.

03 Professional practice years

Many of our undergraduate degrees come with the option of an additional year spent in practice.

Between your second and third year, you could spend a full year on a placement directly related to your creative studies.

04 Your future

And with all that under your belt, we’ll still be alongside you as you take your first steps into the industry.

During your studies and after graduation, we’ll support you in finding freelance opportunities, part-time jobs, or your first big career move.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Creative careers rarely follow straight lines, so you don’t need to either. At UCA, your journey could take you anywhere – studying in Asia, volunteering in the Americas, or cultural trips to Europe. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you’ll come back with bright new ideas, perspectives, memories, and experiences that will change the way you see the world.

Study overseas

Broaden your horizons, experience new cultures, and develop your work in a university abroad. Choose from a single-semester trip or a full year at one of our partner institutions around the world (and it’ll count towards your UCA degree.)

You could study in Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Turkey, Norway, Finland, Canada, the USA, and many more.

Summers well spent

Want to spend your time off doing something meaningful, without needing to move or miss any of your learning at UCA?

We can help you find short-term overseas study options, chances to work abroad, or trips to volunteer around the world.

It was magical

Siân Lewis

Studied in New York

“Classes on 5th Avenue, iconic luxury shopping. It was magical. I never expected my life to involve living in Manhattan, or becoming an expert in fashion sustainability. My friends don’t recognise me now, I was never that girl. Now I am.”

Just do it!

Jacob Morgan

Volunteered in Fiji

“Any students thinking about doing something like this – just do it! It was the best experience. I would love to go back.”

My advice is to say yes

Kayleigh Bates

Studied in Italy

“From doing this, I have now gained five new friends with whom I am making plans to travel the rest of the world. My other advice would be that money can always come back; memories can’t. There are grants you can apply for to help, and I found Milan quite affordable. You also get to say ‘when I lived in Milan,’ which is always fun.”

OUR SCHOOLS

CANTERBURY CITY OF STORIES

On ancient cobbled streets, between Medieval buildings, alongside the wide, peaceful river – you’ll find Canterbury. Home of Chaucer, Becket, and Marlowe – this city has been at the centre of art, theatre, and literature for hundreds of years.

Today, it’s a world famous destination for all things historic and creative –a stunning location in which to create.

Steeped in history, storytelling, and ideas, Canterbury has been one of England’s cultural capitals for millennia.

Built around its world-famous cathedral and historic streets, the city has been magnetic for pilgrims, writers, artists, thinkers, and creatives.

Today, our students love its independent cafés, bookshops, galleries, and vintage stores. Favourite spots include The Penny Theatre (for live sport, karaoke, and quizzes), Cité Crêpes (for quick, delicious bites) and the Curzon Cinema for indie films and blockbuster hits.

You don’t have to go far to stretch your legs, either. We’re surrounded by green space – Westgate Gardens, Dane John Gardens, and the city walls offer places to walk and unwind, while the Kent countryside and coast are stunning options for sunny days.

CANTERBURY SCHOOL OF ART, ARCHITECTURE &

DESIGN

Scan for full details on our facilities.

UCA Canterbury is home to our architecture, design, fine art, and visual communications courses.

It’s where creative thinking gains shape, purpose and direction. It is an art school rooted in designing big, equipped to help you turn ideas and experiments into masterpieces.

Large, accessible machine workshop equipped with a mixture of hand tools and machinery including CNC routing

Digital Fabrication Lab where you can use laser cutters and 3D/SLS printers

Painting studio, where you will learn to construct frames and stretchers, as well as using traditional painting techniques and materials

Printmaking studios for screenprinting, litho, offset, lino-cutting, and etching

Photographic studio, where you will be able to book photoshoots and document your portfolio of work

Animation suite installed with specialist software, high-end drawing tablets, and scanners

Print bureau with multiple options on finishing and papers, offering self-service and bespoke printing to professional standards

Sculpture studios equipped with resins, kilns, and facilities for mould making and casting

Four fully equipped digital media suites with the latest Macs and PCs running up-todate software

Colour and black-and-white darkrooms for developing film, cyanotype, and the use of industry standard film processors

Rochester House Visual Communication studios

ACCOMMODATION AT CANTERBURY

UCA Canterbury has two halls accommodation options – Ian Dury House (on campus) and Riverside Student Quarter (off campus), just a 20 minute walk away.

Hall No. of rooms

Ian Dury House 56 (all en-suite rooms) and 1 (adaptive flat for 1)

Riverside 100-136 Student Quarter (all en-suite rooms)

Prices range from around £158 to £185 per week, self-catered

If you’d prefer private accommodation, our dedicated team have resources to help you with your search. You can find out more about this and our services at uca.ac.uk/accommodation

Ian Dury House

Riverside Quarter

Ian Dury House

EPSOM CENTRE OF STYLE

Between the capital and the countryside lies Epsom, a small town with a huge identity. Home of the Derby, surrounded by rolling green hills, and with a clear view of the London skyline – this is a place to escape to and a destination all of its own.

Slow down, breathe the air, and explore Epsom’s rich history of bringing wonder to the world.

Best known for the Derby and the Downs, Epsom has long been one of Britain’s largest stages for public spectacle, show, and style.

Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, for hundreds of years, the Derby continues to be one of the country’s finest fashion events – bringing London’s glitz and glamour to stunning surroundings.

Some of our students’ favourite spots in the town include Rosebery Park, opposite the University, and The Faraday – for its karaoke, bottomless brunches, live sport, weekly quizzes, and extensive vegan menu. If you fancy some shopping, Epsom has a long stretch of high-street stores to choose from.

Want a bigger day out? Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures can give you a thrill, just a short train ride away.

Or for a big night, hop on the train to reach Soho, Leicester Square, Brixton, or Shoreditch within an hour.

EPSOM SCHOOL OF CREATIVE BUSINESS, FASHION & ENTERPRISE

UCA Epsom is home to our creative business and fashion courses.

Epsom is a creative industries campus with oxygen. Close enough to London to plug straight into the world’s biggest creative economy, far enough out to give you space to think, kitted out with classic and contemporary technologies.

Extensive fashion studios with sewing facilities

Dedicated Fashion Atelier machine rooms and pattern-cutting studios

Gerber technology – a unique Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) facility for fashion

Digital fashion studio

Textiles studios

Make-up and hair design salon

Digital print studio with large and small format printing, bookbinding, guillotine, perfect binding, vinyl cutting, and dry mounting

Screen-print studio for traditional printing

Sound studio with equipped sound booth

Fully equipped photographic studios

Colour film processing (C41) developing film, and hi-spec scanners, colour workflows, and photographic printing

Laser cutter and 3D-printing facilities

250-seat auditorium

Seminar rooms

Video conferencing

Boardrooms and breakout spaces

IT studios

ACCOMMODATION AT EPSOM

UCA Epsom has a range of halls accommodation both on campus or around a 10 minutes walk away.

Hall No. of rooms

Bradford House 99 (all en-suite)

Crossways House 99 (all en-suite)

Wilberforce Court 70 (shared facilities)

Worple Road 53 (all en-suite)

Prices range from around £170 to £198 per week, self-catered

If you’d prefer private accommodation, our dedicated team have resources to help you with your search. You can find out more about this and our services at uca.ac.uk/accommodation

Worple Road

Bradford House

Bradford House

FARNHAM TOWN OF MAKERS

Home to one of the very first UK art schools, Farnham is a town rich with creative craftsmanship. Its river valleys and ancient woodlands have attracted artists and writers for centuries. Today, it’s a place to think, practice, grow, and become.

As England’s very first World Craft Town, Farnham is alive with the sights and sounds of making.

You’ll find ceramicists, weavers, textile artists, book artists, woodworkers, metalworkers, and printmakers producing beautiful work of international acclaim.

The campus is a stone’s throw from the picturesque Lion and Lamb Yard, with its cafes, restaurants, pubs, and independent shops. Elphicks department store, Pullingers Art Shop, and 101 Collectors Records are some of our students’ favourite places to spend a slow afternoon shopping.

You’ll find your friends in The Lost Boy pub, or at Farnham Maltings catching shows, comedy, and films. If you’re staying out late, hop on a bus to Guildford and you can dance the night away.

Or, for a slower pace, Bourne Woods and Caesar’s Camp offer peaceful, countryside walks and a chance to pause, think, and breathe.

FARNHAM SCHOOL OF CREATIVE & CULTURAL INDUSTRIES

Scan for full details on our facilities.

UCA Farnham is home to film, performing arts, fine art, photography, animation, crafts, graphic design, illustration, creative technology, and games courses.

Farnham is where ideas slow down enough to take shape. Where hands get dirty, where process matters, and where games are developed next to where glass is blown.

Multiple film soundstages with industry-standard lighting facilities

Virtual Production and Motion Capture studio

Avid/Media Composer post-production video editing studios, and sound editing (Pro Tools) facilities

Visual Effects studio

Cinema

Animation studios with Mac workstations, lightboxes, line testers, and hi-speed batch scanners

Animation rostrum rooms set up to capture stop-frame animation on Dragonframe

Traditional printmaking workshop including equipment for intaglio, relief, screen printing, and letterpress

Comic & Concept Art digital studio with Wacom Tablets

Analogue film processing and darkrooms (colour and black-and-white) and digital imaging studio

Photography studios with an infinity table, professional lighting, and adjustable backdrops for a range of creative shoots

Digital print bureau providing professional print and finishing service using an extensive range of materials, paper types, sizes, and finishes

Book-finishing room which provides spiral and perfectbinding options along with paper handling machines for creating handouts and booklets

Live performance room with musical instruments, control room for sound mixing, dubbing theatre, radio studios, TV studio, and foley studio

Dedicated performance and rehearsal spaces

Specialist workshops and equipment supporting both hand and mechanical processes for working with ceramics, glass, wood, metal, plastics, and jewellery.

Foundry for bronze and aluminium casting

Digital Fabrication Lab with laser cutters and 3D, SLS and resin printing facilities

Three-camera digital television studio, networked to our broadcast newsroom, using professional-standard autocue software

Computer science and creative computing labs

Dedicated building with high-end games creation and experiencing environments and facilities, immersive VR studios, 3D printing and gaming consoles

ACCOMMODATION AT FARNHAM

UCA Farnham has two on campus halls accommodation choices, both less than a minute from class. As well as Union Yard, Polden Studios – our purpose-built student accommodation in Aldershot.

Hall No. of rooms

Student Village 345 (16 en-suite)

University Walk 252 (all en-suite)

Polden Studios 128 (all en-suite)

Prices range from around £132 to £198 per week

If you’d prefer private accommodation, our dedicated team have resources to help you with your search. You can find out more about this and our services at uca.ac.uk/accommodation

University Walk

University Walk

Student Village

MAIDSTONE TELEVISION STUDIOS

If you’re considering joining our BA (Hons) Television Production degree course, you’ll be spending your time at Maidstone Television Studios, where we have a unique partnership in place.

Here, you’ll have the opportunity to study at the UK’s largest regional independent TV broadcast facility, where some of the UK’s most recognisable shows have been filmed for the last 40 years. You’ll be right at the heart of the action and, supported by our dedicated work placement co-ordinator, benefit from a range of professional opportunities during your studies. Students have worked behind the scenes on the likes of Deal or No Deal, Genius Game with David Tennant, and the Studios hosted Wes Anderson’s Oscar winning shorts for Netflix.

Our learning environment inside the studios is spacious, friendly, and packed with all the facilities and resources you need to hone your skills, including access to live galleries, editing suites and an audio booth, as well as a fully stocked equipment store and library.

Accommodation

There are no halls accommodation close to Maidstone, however, it is possible to apply for Canterbury accommodation and commute via a shuttle bus to the Studios. Students may prefer to seek local private accommodation.

Our accommodation team are more than happy to help you with this process, and you can find more information at uca.ac.uk/accommodation

OUR LIBRARIES

Our libraries are amazing – offering great spaces to study, a wide range of computing, printing and copying services, helpful and dedicated staff, and access to our unique specialist arts collection.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to study or somewhere to work in a group, there are lots of different spaces in our libraries – from learning pods to meeting and seminar rooms, as well as open-access computing facilities.

We also have social spaces where you can sit back, relax, and catch up, or browse our wide range of specialist online and print magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Over 600,000 print and electronic books and exhibition catalogues

695 print journals and magazines

Access to over 2 million electronic journals and magazines

500 metres of archives, including the work of Tessa Boffin and Bob Godfrey

4,000 DVDs

More than 2 million films, television and radio shows online

A wide range of special collections, including zines and artists’ books

70 academic and visual databases

We’ll help you to use our vast range of books and learning materials, and support you to improve your academic skills – like understanding assessments and improving your writing

SUPPORTING YOU AT UCA

University is a beautiful opportunity to experience new things, forge lasting friendships, and lean into a brand new chapter of your life. But we know that with all that excitement comes plenty of challenges, which is why we’re always here to listen, help, and support you – however you need us.

Each School has a Campus Life Hub – they’re your first call for guidance whenever you need it.

Wellbeing and counselling

We can talk with you about how you’re feeling and help you create a plan to address any worries.

We can also offer regular, ongoing wellbeing support – or refer you to other specialist services.

Disability and inclusion

If you’re comfortable talking to us about your disability or specific learning differences (SpLD) –we’ll support you and work with your tutors to help provide an accessible learning experience.

We’ll help you to learn independently and give you skills and confidence that will stay with you for life.

And if you need support for any disability assessments, or apply for any allowances, we’ll support you there too.

Advice and guidance

Confidential, practical, and personal support with issues like money, relationships, visas, or getting used to UK or university life.

Designated staff

If you’re under 18, a carer, a care leaver, or estranged – we’ll give you specialised support for the whole time you’re with us.

Your designated member of staff will be a point of contact for you and any carers of professionals working with you, for seamless and confidential support throughout your studies.

And anything else you need

Help comes in lots of different ways. Whatever you need a hand with, we can find a way to make things a little easier for you.

Nothing is too small, there are no silly questions, we’re here to help.

Think about your needs, expected outcomes, and the support you need to successfully access learning.

For more information, visit uca.ac.uk/support

Join us at a UCA live session

Get the full story about the things that matter to you most, with live Q&A sessions on a range of topics – ask questions about what it’s like to live and study at UCA.

Visit our website to find out when our next UCA live session is uca.ac.uk/webinars

Chat with our students

Want to find out more about the specifics of student life, our support, or your course?

With Unibuddy, you can search for current UCA students by where they’re from or what they’re studying, and speak to someone just like you:

www.uca.ac.uk/chat

Becca’s story

There is plenty of support for you throughout your learning – as Fine Art graduate Becca’s story shows.

Becca didn’t know she was dyslexic until she was in her second year at UCA, when she unexpectedly failed an essay. After undertaking a test for dyslexia, she found she was severely dyslexic, but with a high IQ, which probably masked her struggles.

“UCA, alongside Student Finance, issued me with a learning disability grant that covered a one-toone tutor for one session a week to help with my essays, and eventually my dissertation.

I had access to other benefits, such as extended deadlines, and a budget for additional materials and gadgets to help me work.

Becca Marsh BA (Hons) Fine Art

If you are struggling with your work, in particular with writing, then I highly recommend getting tested for dyslexia. Speak with your tutors and see if they have noticed any patterns in your work, because what I was completely oblivious to before seems so obvious now that I’ve been taught to spot the signs.

Although it is a little bit of an investment for the test, the rewards outweigh the initial cost. It has impacted my life in a positive way and shaped my career into something I never thought was achievable.”

MEET YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION

Hello and welcome!

UCA Students’ Union (UCASU) is here to support students, build community, and improve life at UCA. Guided by our values of Creativity, Connection and Community, we work to make sure every student feels they belong. We elevate the student voice, create opportunities to develop skills and showcase talent, and bring people together through events, activities and campaigns.

Membership from day one

Did you know that when you enrol on a course at UCA, you automatically become a member of UCASU - you can be involved as you want.

Clubs and Societies

With UCASU, you’ll have opportunities to meet others, further your non-academic interests and discover new hobbies. So, whether you’re into K-Pop, sports, or tabletop games, or you’re looking for friends in our LGBTQ+, international or neurodivergent communities, there’s something for everyone.

We’ve got your course supplies

We’ve got your course supplies covered with our art shops on the Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham campuses. Our shops offer student-friendly prices, a warm welcome and a great range of goods.

Events, activities and advice

Throughout the year, UCASU hosts a range of events, from markets where you can buy or sell creations, to celebrations such as Diwali or Halloween. We are here to help you find your community and connect with like-minded people.

And if you ever find yourself with a problem, or you’re struggling and need some independent advice, there is a wealth of independent information and support available through UCASU too.

Where to find us...

You’ll find a UCASU office on your campus, right in the heart of things, so make sure to say hello and get involved!

If you want to keep on top of the latest news, events, and opportunities, you’ll find us on most social media platforms with the @ucasu tag.

OUR COURSES

INTEGRATED FOUNDATION YEAR

Get a head start on your creative development before you dive into your degree.

Build your confidence, hone your creativity, and develop core skills that will set you up for lasting success in both your degree and your future career.

Our Integrated Foundation Year gives you a headstart on how to think, act, and grow in a true creative practice – whatever subject you choose.

Perfect for those coming from non-creative backgrounds, or those who just want a little more experience and insight into what they can expect.

You’ll master creative learning, project briefings, lectures, workshops, group critiques, essay writing – as well as work in real studio spaces, visit real world creative industries, and make brand new friends to share the journey with.

An Integrated Foundation Year takes place before you begin your undergraduate degree, meaning you’ll study for four years instead of three.

Term 1

Learn new techniques, practical skills, creative thinking, artistic practice, and what it feels and looks like to study with so much freedom.

You’ll prepare for your future studies, whatever subject they’re in, by building and shaping your creative mindset.

Term

2

Focus on your chosen subject with projects, tutorials, and workshops relevant to you.

Complete a final major project, to define and showcase your skills – ensuring you’re fully prepared to start your undergraduate degree.

Find out more about degree pathways and entry criteria via uca.ac.uk/foundation

Campus UCAS Code Farnham W410

Take the spotlight, tread the boards, and break the fourth wall on our exciting industry-connected Acting degree at UCA Farnham.

Our practical and performance-based degree gives you the in-depth vocational training you’ll need to excel on stage, on screen and in digital media, combining rigorous practical learning and collaborations with a wide range of industry partners and networks including the National Theatre and British Film Institute. This course is also recognised by Spotlight and Equity UK.

You’ll participate in workshops specialising in voice, movement, text and character and, as this course is production-focused, you will be cast in both live and recorded performances, as well as devising your own work. You’ll be supported in your professional development, producing a portfolio including headshots, a voice reel, showreel and website.

You’ll be able to use our state-of-the-art facilities, including our recording, motion capture, and virtual production studios, while our partnerships with Farnham Maltings and other respected theatres will enable you to learn and showcase your work in professional live performance environments. When you graduate, you’ll also be able to audition for the new UCA Graduate Company.

Cadell Oduola in “Birdland”

by Simon Stephens

ANIMATION

Campus UCAS Code Farnham W615

If you’re keen to forge a career within the world of animation, then look no further than our renowned course.

Established in 1972 by Academy Award™ winner Bob Godfrey, ours is one of the best-known and most highly regarded animation courses in the world, with graduates going on to create iconic characters such as Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig, and Compare the Market’s meerkats. Whatever your preferred medium – whether you want to make animated films using CGI, traditional drawing, oil on glass, sand animation, or pixelation –you’ll be encouraged to follow your passions and aim high.

To help you achieve this, you’ll have access to our incredible facilities, including a stop motion studio with Dragonframe Capture, professional camera equipment, and stages pre-rigged with grips, stands, and lights. Not to mention computer suites kitted out with the latest Adobe, Toon Boom, and Maya CG software.

Along the way, we’ll support you with our extensive knowledge, experience, and industry contacts, providing everything you need to become an innovative storyteller and artist.

Student work by Finn Morgan-Roberts

ARCHITECTURE

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury K100

Take the first step on your journey to becoming an architect on our highly regarded Architecture degree.

You’ll focus on learning about space, regulation, and society, and how design decisions can impact on the individual, on sustainability, and on climate.

We don’t expect you to have all the answers to these big questions – just an open mind. You’ll need to be ready to experiment, rethink processes and narratives, and learn as you go.

With dedicated studios, an enviable position in the cathedral city of Canterbury, and a practice-based, industry-driven teaching team, you’ll have the space and support you need to learn and to create.

Student work by Kaviyan Arivanandan

BODY ART

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury W191

The evolution of body art – from its ancient origins to its contemporary manifestations –is just part of the story on our new degree in Body Art at UCA Canterbury.

You’ll critically examine the multifaceted realm of body art – you will make a comprehensive study of its historical, cultural, and practical dimensions – with an emphasis on its significance as both an artistic medium and a sociocultural phenomenon.

You’ll also engage with a range of topics, from traditional tattooing practices and body modifications to queer culture and individualism, the emerging discourse on transhumanism and the future of body art.

Alongside theoretical study, you’ll enjoy learning practical approaches by training in the use of modern tools and techniques, as well as exploring methodologies for research and analysis in the field.

You’ll also prepare for your future career, as you benefit from a range of professional development opportunities focusing on areas from portfolio development to industry marketing strategies and understanding the global body art landscape.

Student work by Siobhan Martin

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Campus UCAS Code

Epsom, Farnham and Canterbury N200

Make an impact on global business organisations with the practical skills, industry experience, and entrepreneurial spirit you’ll gain on our Business & Management degree course.

This course is designed to prepare you to be a worldleading creative business professional, ready for a range of career opportunities in the creative business sector. As you study, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in one or more areas of the creative and cultural industries.

With a focus on creativity and design outputs, which are supported by financial literacy, data investigations and the application of analytical models, you’ll learn to solve problems and make informed decisions in the business of the global creative and cultural industries.

By the end of your degree, you’ll be ready to enter any area of creative business with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed – whether that’s within a major organisation or by embarking on your own entrepreneurial journey.

CERAMICS & GLASS

Campus UCAS Code Farnham W266

Turn on the television and the schedules are packed with programmes about specialist crafts and other making activities. If you’re inspired to get involved, you can develop your passion for designing and making on our Ceramics & Glass degree.

The course is forward-thinking and dynamic in its approach to materials, but it’s also built on a strong tradition of craft practice in the World Craft Town of Farnham – meaning you get the best of both worlds when it comes to creating your own masterpieces.

Facilities here are world-class, so you’ll have everything you need to establish yourself and your craft identity with guidance from our team of expert staff – innovative practitioners in their own right – who bring extensive knowledge and experience.

Alongside making, you’ll explore the contextual background to your work, helping you gain a better understanding of the roles of ceramics and glass in history and wider society.

If working with clay or experimenting with glass is calling to you, start your journey at UCA and experience the possibilities for yourself.

Student work by Jana Griffiths

Student work by Roos Peeters

COMIC & CONCEPT ART

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W223

Passionate about the world of games and comics? Dream of creating exciting concepts for characters? Our highly popular Comic & Concept Art degree will give you the tools and the network to follow those dreams.

You’ll learn the techniques and modes of presentation used in the industry, together with fundamental art skills, which you’ll then apply in different ways, depending on your chosen medium. Plus, you’ll gain the storytelling skills to bring your characters and worlds to life.

You’ll be guided along the way by a team of staff who have direct industry experience, and you’ll have access to enviable facilities including our suite of Wacom Cintiq tablets.

Once you graduate, you’ll have the right skills to aim high in the career of your choice, whether it’s as a comic artist specialising in layout, panel, and page design, or a concept artist creating new characters and environments, that help define the look and feel of entertainment franchises.

Student work by Finn Horner

BSc COMPUTER SCIENCE

Campus

UCAS Code

Farnham G400

While other computer science degrees sit within a traditional technological setting, our course sits within a highly creative community – giving you a fresh perspective on your learning. You’ll work with creators across different artforms – from acting to film – and gather data to feed systems and build creative outputs.

You’ll have access to a wealth of creative facilities, resources, and collaborative opportunities to create unique work that’s conceptual, aesthetically pleasing, and responsive to the latest industry developments. You’ll learn about coding, programming for interactivity, AI for creativity, and much more.

Studying in a community-driven environment, you’ll have plenty of one-to-one tutorials, plus opportunities to work alongside postgraduate and PhD students. Along the way, our programme of learning will help you develop sought-after creative problem-solving skills and prepare you to evolve with the industry throughout your career.

DESIGN FOR THEATRE & SCREEN

Campus UCAS Code Farnham W440

Tell stories, build worlds, and create characters on our exciting Design for Theatre & Screen degree at UCA Farnham.

On this course, we nurture imaginative and divergent thinkers, offering you the time, conditions, and support to find your creative voice and develop the confidence to say what you want to design and create with authenticity.

You’ll engage with, and respond to, stories –researching and exploring your own ways of telling them and experimenting to find the visual worlds where those stories can thrive. And you’ll have the opportunity to create the costumes and props that exist in those worlds, too.

Our staff are practising theatre and film professionals, and with industry links to organisations like the Royal Opera House and National Theatre, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and experience to sustain your craft beyond university.

Student work by Anna Davies

DIGITAL ART

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W690

If you want to approach fine art from a technological perspective, our Digital Art degree is the ideal starting place.

On this course, you won’t be drawing on tablets – you’ll be exploring digital culture and creating art in response to it. Technology might be your subject, your medium, or both: you could use VR headsets to create a virtual experience, or build a sculpture out of them. And with access to the full scope of facilities across the Farnham campus, you’ll have endless possibilities for thoughtprovoking work.

With the skills and collaborative confidence you’ll develop during your studies, you could choose a career as an artist, or move into areas like digital content creation. Our graduates have gone on to become successful YouTube creators, including PJ Ligouri (KickThePJ), and TikTok influencers.

Student work by Boglarka Bato

DIGITAL MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Campus UCAS Code Epsom, Farnham and Canterbury P304

Want to take your place in the everevolving landscape of digital marketing and social media? This course will give you the skills to get there.

You’ll learn the fundamentals of the discipline, from media planning and buying to brand identity, marketing, and communications. You’ll explore the impact of social media on society, politics, and the economy — plus the practical elements of using social media as a business tool.

You’ll have the chance to apply your skills in a specific area of interest within the creative industries – from Cosmetics and Beauty, Fashion, Games, Lifestyle, or Music. And in your second year, you’ll be able to pick from a range of exciting elective units to broaden your knowledge even further.

By the end of your degree, you’ll be an expert marketeer and a highly effective social media manager with the knowledge you need to use paid, owned, and earned media to meet business goals, plus a detailed understanding of how to target your core audiences and harness the power of influencers. You’ll be adaptable and quick-thinking, with a detailed grasp of the role that digital marketing and social media play in different global markets.

Student work by Amelia Tomlin

FASHION ATELIER

Campus UCAS Code Epsom W237

Hands-on from day one, our Fashion Atelier degree is a dream course for those passionate about the craft of fashion.

This is the only course of its kind in the country and it demands full commitment from its students. Everything you do will result in a tangible fashion product; you’ll be making contemporary garments from the outset as you learn the specialist techniques required for creating bespoke fashion masterpieces.

From pattern-cutting and draping to translating 2D ideas into 3D products through specialist making and finishing, you’ll develop bespoke tailoring skills, and become a true expert in the art of high-end couture.

As you work, you’ll be supported by experts in fashion atelier, who will guide you towards realising your vision.

Student work by Natasha Smith

FASHION BRANDING & COMMUNICATION

Campus UCAS Code Epsom WN65

Fashion isn’t just about the catwalk –there’s a whole world of marketing, communication, and branding behind it. On this course, we’ll help you become an expert in the fashion arena.

As well as teaching you the fundamentals of business, this course will develop your knowledge of the fashion industry to an expert level, with a particular focus on how brands communicate, operate, and innovate. You’ll use what you learn to develop methods for communicating your own creative ideas to consumers.

You’ll also get the chance to broaden your knowledge by applying these skills in a range of other specific areas of interest within the creative industries. In your second year, you’ll be able to pick from a host of exciting elective units to extend your knowledge. By the time you graduate, you’ll have gained the experience to build lasting relationships throughout the global fashion industry using communication, promotion, networking, and technology.

From here, we’re confident you’ll follow in the footsteps of our many successful graduates, who have gone on to work for the likes of ASOS, Celine, L’Oréal, Paul Smith, Farfetch, Burberry, and Chanel.

Student work by Hattie Carline

FASHION BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Behind every fashion brand is a brilliant business plan and a team of experts to bring it to life. If you want to take your place among the major players of the fashion industry, this course can help you get there.

We’ll develop your business sense and planning skills so that you can thrive commercially. Whether it’s fashion buying, merchandising, forecasting, management strategy, PR and marketing, branding, or international business, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

Along the way, you’ll get the opportunity to broaden your horizons as you pick from a range of industry-related elective units, from supply chain management to behavioural studies. Whichever you choose, your learning will take a global outlook that allows you to forge a career in either domestic or international markets.

And, as this course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, you will work in years 2 and 3 to earn a prestigious professional qualification alongside your degree.

Student work by Ellie-Rose Wallace

FASHION DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code Epsom W233

Turn ideas into reality, express yourself through fashion, and get invaluable access to the industry on our Fashion Design degree at UCA Epsom.

This course prides itself on its diverse student body. Regardless of where you are on your design journey, we have the space and the skilled team to help you reach your full potential.

You’ll learn a broad range of skills, from research and concept development to implementation, showcase, and branding. In your third year, you’ll create a final collection, with options for 3D or digital outputs, or a mix of the two.

And, with opportunities to undertake a second-year work placement, connect with key players in the fashion industry, and showcase your work at events such as Graduate Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, we’ll help you fashion a great career.

Student work by McKenna Marsden

FASHION IMAGE & STYLING

Campus UCAS Code Epsom W239

Have you ever seen an advert on television, a shoot in a magazine, or a fashion runway show and wished you could have been part of bringing it to life? Then our Fashion Image & Styling course at UCA Epsom is the one for you.

The course will teach you how to create looks and experiment in the studio and on location to produce ideas for editorial, magazines, campaigns, TV, events, and film. You’ll collaborate in-house, working alongside students in fashion design, make-up and hair design. In addition to working with lecturers with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from visiting industry professionals in the fields of styling, editorial, and fashion communication.

Graduates of this course have gone on to work in events and campaigns for Gucci and Marks & Spencer, styled shoots for i-D Magazine and NET-A- PORTER, and hosted or contributed to fashion events in London, Milan, and New York.

Student work by Seyon Amosu

FILM PRODUCTION

Campus

UCAS Code

Farnham W600

With a 60-year legacy and a string of successful alumni to its name, our Film Production degree is known for moving with the times to stay at the forefront of industry practice.

With an enviable location — close to a host of high-profile production hubs — and industry-standard facilities, as well as associations with the BFI and ARRI, this degree is well placed to give you the breadth of skills and connections you need to thrive beyond graduation.

Learning from a staff team that includes international filmmaking award winners, picture editors, sound post-production professionals, development producers, cinematographers, screenwriters, fiction and factual directors, and editors, you’ll explore all aspects of filmmaking to help you identify the career path that suits you best, and find your own filmmaking voice.

You’ll also be able to build a wider portfolio of knowledge and experience through a series of exciting elective units that include animation, music, and acting.

Student work by Charlie Crawley

FINE ART CANTERBURY

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury W100

Diversity of people and art practice is celebrated and vital in our Fine Art degree at UCA Canterbury, where you will be supported to become the artist you want to be.

With a high level of individual support and extensive facilities, you will enjoy a bespoke learning experience.

You’ll develop independence in both your thinking and working, come to understand what it means to be creative in relation to your own interests, and learn how to communicate your practice.

Fine Art at Canterbury is well established. There is easy access to both London and Europe, and our international team of staff with world-leading practices and reputations will support, nurture, and encourage you as you create work that matters.

Student work by Zhen Feng Ang

FINE ART FARNHAM

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W101

Learn about yourself and where you fit in the world, and connect it into your art on our close-knit and collaborative Fine Art degree at UCA Farnham.

The course is all about connecting personal passion, ideas, and a broad range of skills to help you become an artist who can exhibit work with confidence and build an exciting professional career in any of a wide range of fields, from full-time artist to art therapist, to curator.

Professional opportunities are embedded throughout the course, including organising a local art festival, entering local, national and international competitions, and sharing your art externally. You’ll identify, plan, and prepare for life beyond graduation. And you’ll be taught – with plenty of one-to-one contact – by an academic team who are actively practising in industry.

Most of all, you’ll be challenged to learn new things, investigate your own practice, see the world differently, and make mistakes. This is your home to grow creatively.

Student work by Hebe McKenzie

GAMES ARTS

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W280

Is your imagination bursting with concepts for new worlds and characters? Then this practice-based Games Arts degree could be for you.

This course, located in a certified Games School, focuses on workflows for 2D concept and 3D art for video games. You’ll develop skills in 3D modelling and texturing and connect them with your drawing skills to create pro-level games assets, like characters, environments and props to make your favourite games come to life.

You’ll develop your skills using world-class facilities, with high-end hardware, plus the latest software and games engines.

You’ll also benefit from opportunities to collaborate with students on our other games courses, and make the most of our exceptional industry links to brands like Rebellion, SEGA, Creative Assembly, and Supermassive Games.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to launch a career in the industry, whether in the UK or abroad.

Student work by Luke Hockley

GAMES DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham I 620

Learn how to shape and enhance a player’s gaming experience and fully develop exciting ideas on our holistic Games Design degree.

The role of the games designer is central to the development of any game – it’s designers that create the rules, systems and mechanics that form the core of any gaming experience.

You’ll learn to prototype games using games engines, develop design documentation, conduct research, and create experiences. This course is all about developing your ideas, nurturing your creativity, and giving you the skills to make your concepts a reality.

You’ll be supported along the way by a team of lecturers with a wealth of industry experience at AAA games studios, and, since the course is aligned to the most prestigious developers and publishers, you’ll be fully prepared to start your career right after graduation.

Student work by Sarah Harrison

BSc GAMES DEVELOPMENT

Campus UCAS Code Farnham G450

Begin your journey towards becoming a developer who can specialise in the growth areas of the games industry.

Our Games Development degree at UCA Farnham focuses on creativity in the realm of gameplay programming and prepares you to take a central role among artists, designers, and programming teams. You’ll learn programming to develop gameplay mechanics using game engines and have the opportunity to become a skilled technical artist as you optimise the look of characters and environments.

In your first year, you’ll learn the fundamentals of programming, becoming fluent in the most relevant programming languages in the industry today, before becoming adept at programming for gameplay, all within the context of game engines. Then, in the second year, you’ll learn technical art using specialist tools and focus in on your personal and professional interests. In your last year, you’ll undertake a final project that aligns with the kind of developer you want to be.

The skills you learn here will prepare you for an exciting career in the games industry – and help make you one of the most sought-after members of any company’s team.

Student work by George Pennyfather

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W217

Exploring traditional practice while future-proofing your skills is what our Graphic Design course is all about.

We’ll get you ready for the careers and opportunities of tomorrow, while giving you the space to embark on a personal creative journey.

The design industry is changing faster than ever, not least because of the emergence of AI, so it’s important you get the time and support to work out where you want to be. We’ll coach you to mix old and new technologies and to experiment with confidence, give you a comprehensive foundation of graphic and UX design skills, and provide opportunities to fully explore your craft as you work on exciting live briefs with partner organisations of all sizes.

With an expert team and a fantastic student-to-staff ratio, you’ll feel supported and guided throughout, and our newly refurbished studios will provide all the necessary facilities for you to fulfil your potential.

Student work by Elena Dimitrova

ILLUSTRATION

Campus UCAS Code Farnham W220

Playfully creative. Experimental. Commercially relevant. These are all ways to describe our exciting Illustration degree.

This course has a strong sense of purpose – we want you to test what the language of illustration means to today’s audiences, make (and learn from) mistakes, research and generate ideas, and learn how to be entrepreneurial.

By placing experimentation and play at the forefront of what you do, you’ll be challenged to take risks with your work, try new ways of working and be adventurous.

You’ll get to work on exciting projects that are a combination of client-focused live briefs and external competitions with partners, such as leading restaurant chains, hotels, magazines and local and multinational businesses. You’ll also be given the opportunity to present your portfolio to illustration agencies, design houses, and art directors.

Everything on this course is practice-based, with theory, context, and research built in. Based in our creative studio, you’ll be part of an amazing community, where staff – who are all practising illustrators and artists – will push you to be the best you can possibly be.

Student work by Joanna Mockett

INTERIOR DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury W257

On our Interior Design degree, we’ll expect you to ask questions and think about how we use spaces, and how we can better understand people’s needs in the spaces they use.

Fundamentally, you’ll be concerned with investigating how we feel about the spaces we inhabit, and prioritising human comfort. You’ll also develop your contextual awareness and your ability to create socially and culturally sensitive design responses.

Your work will be client-driven—so you’ll learn how to meet the needs and desires of any given client, preparing you for your future career. You’ll be taught by an academic and technical team with a range of industry experience spanning areas from high-end retail to commercial space.

Student work by Darcey Jamieson

JEWELLERY & SILVERSMITHING

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W271

Offering you the time and encouragement to learn how to design and make, using a range of techniques, and a place within a tight-knit community of makers, our Jewellery & Silversmithing degree is ideal preparation for a professional life in the industry.

You’ll have fantastic access to world-class facilities that are central to our teaching and learning. You can also explore a wide range of other materials and processes in our workshops, including ceramics, wood, and glass. Our teaching team of active practitioners, who are highly regarded in their fields, are the best guides to support you through your studies.

On this workshop-based course, you can expect to learn through making and be taught traditional technical skills that go hand-in-hand with material innovation and experimentation. You’ll also learn to present and promote your work, to communicate with confidence, and plan for future employment.

With an enviable location in the World Craft Town of Farnham, and with the world’s only Crafts Study Centre on campus, you’ll find UCA is a special and friendly place to study this fascinating subject.

Student work by Hannah Norris

MAKE-UP & HAIR DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code Epsom W452

This degree has been designed for make-up and hair professionals by make-up and hair professionals, with an emphasis on work in the fashion industry, including for editorial, advertorial, and moving image.

Make-up and hair artists are key to the creation of impactful fashion images. If you are ambitious, drawn to the medium, and keen to express yourself and experiment, then this is the course for you.

You’ll learn about the history of fashion and cosmetics and their relevance to today’s discourse in fashion image-making. You’ll meet with industry professionals and learn about make-up, skincare, and beauty products, and how to use these in artistic and unconventional ways.

Equal weight is given to hair and make-up skills, giving you the scope to create head pieces, as well as master airbrushing and body paint techniques. You’ll learn how to generate ideas and develop a creative project from conception to delivery, engaging with topics that reflect your individual voice while pushing boundaries through experimentation.

Throughout the course, you’ll be taught by academics and technicians who are active in the industry, and you’ll collaborate on exciting projects with students from other fashion image courses.

Student work by Callie Foulsham

MUSIC & SOUND PRODUCTION

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W302

Our Music & Sound Production degree will give you the skills to thrive as a music producer in today’s industry, equipping you to stretch beyond just working with musicians in a studio, or programming beats.

You’ll learn how to produce music and sound in a variety of genres, but you’ll also learn how to operate a recording studio environment, use multiple Digital Audio Workstations for music production and performance (Ableton), record, mix and master (Logic Pro), deliver sound editing and design projects (Pro Tools), and design a unique and fully functional digital sampler instrument.

As part of UCA Farnham’s vibrant creative community, you’ll collaborate with fellow students across film and television, animation and acting, to work on exciting projects throughout your studies. You’ll also respond to professional briefs and build a portfolio that suits your career ambitions to ensure you graduate ready for the industry.

MUSIC BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

If you have your sights set on working in the creative, innovative, and fast-moving music industry, then our Music Business & Management course is for you.

As well as providing you with an overview of the industry, this course will give you the chance to explore your own areas of interest and develop the skills you need to thrive in this increasingly global sector.

Whether you picture yourself working in record company management, music marketing, talent scouting and development, artist management, or live music, this course will give you everything you need to achieve your goals, including expertise in merchandising, e-commerce, social media marketing, branding, management, and promotion.

You’ll benefit from our excellent facilities and impressive array of industry contacts, ensuring you graduate with the knowledge, skills, and professional network you need to make your mark in the music industry, whether in the UK or beyond.

Student work by Hele Coma

PHOTOGRAPHY

Campus UCAS Code

Farnham W640

Photography can manifest itself in so many ways, and that makes it one of the most accessible creative mediums. Our Photography degree allows you to take your existing skills and develop them into professional practice.

Our close-knit course means you’ll get plenty of time with the team of expert staff who will guide you through your learning. You’ll get to collaborate with people on other courses, too – sharing some lectures with our Fine Art students to broaden your horizons and start inspiring conversations.

Professional experience is built into the course, and you’ll get chances to gain exposure for your work through competitions and other live projects – for example, our second-year students recently worked on a project with the National Portrait Gallery.

And we have all the facilities and software you’d expect for a top-level photography course, including Capture One software, in our dedicated post-production suite.

So, whether you want to become a commercial photographer, photo agent, curator or picture editor, this course will give you everything you need.

Student work by Tiantian Qiu

PRODUCT DESIGN

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury W243

Develop your design practice and follow your own ideas as you create new, or improved, bespoke products on this exciting design course at UCA Canterbury.

You’ll work alongside fellow design students to help you better understand the role of your products within a wider space, and how the product lives within any given ecosystem of not only space, but also style and technology, cost and value. You’ll also learn to understand your audience and identify a gap in the market before filling it with your ideas and prototypes.

Guided by our team of academics and technical staff, who are actively creating their own work in the industry, and with access to our extensive workshop facilities – complete with tools and equipment for working wood, metal, and plastics – you can expect to be making all the time, right from day one of your studies.

Student work by Xuanle Zheng

TELEVISION PRODUCTION

Our course is unique, in that it’s the only one in the country where you get to study within the complex of a working TV studio – Maidstone Television Studios.

Not only will you learn about various roles within the television industry, but you’ll also develop the skills to become an expert storyteller. Graduates typically leave with three to four credits on professional shows aired by the UK’s leading broadcasters. Previous opportunities have involved working on FIFA eSports, This Time with Alan Partridge, Family Fortunes, and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny.

You’ll do all of this as part of a small, close-knit group of students, working alongside our knowledgeable and supportive staff, with everything you need to thrive and make life-long personal and career connections.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Campus UCAS Code

Canterbury W215

Our Visual Communication degree combines the best of graphic design, illustration, animation, photography, and moving image to help you develop a broad range of vital skills for a career in communication media.

This course is all about helping you to think about the bigger picture when communicating any message — you may wish to illustrate a book, for example, but you will also need to consider the accompanying website, social media account, and advertising campaign.

Developing a deep understanding of all forms of visual communication will enable you to appreciate the various roles each discipline can take within any given project.

During your studies, you’ll be able to specialise in various areas of visual communication — the first of which you’ll choose in your second term — with tutorial guidance and advice.

Our expert staff will be there along the way to ensure you can create with confidence, but you’ll be the master of your own destiny, growing in confidence and preparing fully for life after graduation.

Student work by Dani Nachev

HOW TO APPLY

YOUR PORTFOLIO

At UCA, we know you’re about more than just grades.

To us, exams are only part of the picture – your creativity and what you can do are just as important. Which is why, when you apply to most of our courses, we ask to see a portfolio.

We’ll ask you to bring this when we invite you to an Applicant Day. The day will be a fun and informal experience and an opportunity for you to meet us, and for us to learn more about you as a person. We want to see what inspires you, what you create, and what makes you unique.

And if your course doesn’t ask for a portfolio but you still want to show us your work, we’d love to see it anyway.

For most courses, we’ll ask for 12 to 20 examples of your recent work that show off your experience, interests, aspirations, and passion for your subject. For our BA (Hons) Acting course, we will ask you to participate in an audition process.

Learn more about our portfolio advice at uca.ac.uk/portfolio-advice

Scan this QR code to see our YouTube playlist of portfolio advice videos

FUNDING YOUR STUDIES

Going to university is a major investment in your future, and one of the biggest tasks is sorting out your funding and paying your fees. We’re here to help you through the process.

Tuition fees: what to expect

Your main outlay will be tuition fees.

For almost all UK undergraduate students, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will lend you the money for your fees, so you don’t have to pay upfront.

Tuition fee loans are not means-tested, and UK students can apply to cover the full cost of tuition as long as it is your first degree.

Maintenance loans are designed to help you with living costs, like accommodation, food, supplies, and travel. These are means-tested, with the amount you borrow based on where you live and study and your household income.

You’ll only begin repaying your loans to the SLC when you start earning more than £25,000 (or £32,745 in Scotland and £26,065 in Northern Ireland) a year. This works similarly to how you pay tax – repayments are taken out of your earnings before you receive your net pay, and the more you earn, the more you repay.

Get an idea of how much you could borrow and what your future repayments might look like.

gov.uk/student-finance

What will it cost?

The annual fees for our undergraduate degree courses and Professional Practice Years are as follows:

Undergraduate fees 2026/27

Integrated Foundation Year £9,535

(£5,760 for selected classroom-based courses)

BA/BSc (Hons) degree £9,535

Professional Practice Year £1,900

For more information about our fees, visit our website at uca.ac.uk/fees

Additional costs

There will be other expenses to consider on top of your tuition fees, such as the cost of mandatory trips and exhibitions, and materials. We’ll tell you as much as we can about these when we offer you a place.

When you’re planning your finances, remember to consider other outlays, such as accommodation, food, utility bills, equipment, and art materials.

Scholarships

UCA offers scholarships and fee discounts for a range of learners and subject areas – you can find out more about scholarships on our website at uca.ac.uk/scholarships

APPLICATION PROCESS

We really hope you’ve got all the information you need and are feeling excited about starting the next stage of your journey with us at UCA.

If you’d like to apply to become a student here, there are a few things you need to do. So, we’ve put together this checklist of tasks for you to tick off as you go.

If you are an international student, your application process is slightly different— visit uca.ac.uk/international-applications

Apply

For full-time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form via ucas.com. The institution name is UCA, the institution code is C93, and campus codes are C, E, F and M (for Maidstone TV Studios). We guarantee to consider your application if you apply by the UCAS equal consideration date (13 January 2027) but we usually still have places available after this date.

Note: If you are only applying to UCA, you can use the direct application forms on the course pages on our website uca.ac.uk

Create a portfolio

Your course might require a portfolio – we’ll send you specific requirements after you’ve applied. Our key tips for your portfolio are:

• Lead with your show-stopping pieces

• Show us how you think – document your ideas in a sketchbook

• Present examples of your research that show idea development

• Let your personality shine through and tell us what or who inspires you

Your application

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email from us with your username and password for the UCA Applicant Portal, which you can use to check the status of your application.

Come to your applicant day

This may include a portfolio review, audition and/or a meeting with your course team. You’ll also learn more about your course and campus, and get to meet current students.

Your offer

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer (you’ll also be able to find this on the UCA Applicant Portal). Remember - if your offer is conditional, you’ll need to provide evidence of meeting the conditions before you join. We’ll let you know how to do this.

Accept your offer

For UCAS applications, accept by logging into UCAS Hub. For direct applications, accept using the task in your UCA Applicant Portal.

Apply for accommodation

As soon as you can apply for accommodation, we’ll contact you to let you know. This is usually in March for courses starting in September.

Apply for a student loan

To apply, visit: gov.uk/student-finance (England), saas.gov.uk (Scotland), studentfinancewales.co.uk (Wales) or studentfinanceni.co.uk (Northern Ireland).

Take your place at UCA

• Enrol on your course

• Settle into your accommodation

• Meet your new friends!

Confirm your accommodation

For halls or local accommodation, make sure you’ve:

• Made your advance payment

• Confirmed your moving-in date

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

When looking at whether to offer you a place on one of our courses, we’ll consider your academic credentials alongside the creative talent shown in your portfolio.

Sometimes, we make offers with lower entry requirements to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance, and who were expected to achieve higher results. In these cases, a strong portfolio is particularly important.

Opposite and on the following page, is a breakdown of the usual academic requirements for each of our courses.

BA/BSc DEGREE

Either one of the following qualifications:

• A Level results adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Pass

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction/Merit/Merit

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

• Or 112 UCAS points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

• Or T Level Merit in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 27–30 (at least 15 IB points at Higher Level).

• Plus four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

• Plus a portfolio of work at the required standard (where relevant).

INTEGRATED FOUNDATION

YEAR

Either one of the following qualifications:

• A Level results adding up to 32 UCAS tariff points

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Pass

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Pass/Pass/Pass

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 32 UCAS tariff points

• Or T Level Pass in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above.

• Plus four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

• Plus a portfolio of work at the required standard.

COURSES WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

BSc (Hons) Games Development

In addition to our standard BA/BSc Degree entry requirements, applicants will need five GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English language, maths (grade 9–6/A*– B) and science or physics (grade 9–6/A*– B) for entry onto the main degree or the Integrated Foundation Year.

BA (Hons) Architecture

• A Level results adding up to a minimum of 128 UCAS tariff points

• Or 128 UCAS points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Merit

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction/ Distinction/Merit

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 128 UCAS points

• Or T Level Merit in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 29 to 32 (at least 16 IB points at Higher Level).

• Plus five GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including maths and English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

• Plus a portfolio of work at the required standard.

BA (Hons) Architecture with Integrated Foundation Year

• A Level results adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Pass

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Pass/Pass/Pass

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 32 UCAS tariff points

• Or T Level Pass in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above.

• Plus five GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including maths and English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

• No portfolio of work is required for this course.

International students

International students can view typical entry requirements by country on our website.

If your first language is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language ability –usually a total score of 6.0 on the IELTS for UKVI Academic or IELTS Academic tests, with no less than 5.5 in any component.

More information on our English language entry requirements and other evidence we can accept is available on our website uca.ac.uk/international

Mature students

If you’re returning to study as a mature student, your entry requirements may differ, so email us admissions@uca.ac.uk and we’ll guide you through the process and what you need to do to secure a place.

You can find out more about becoming a mature student at UCA on our website uca.ac.uk/mature-students

UCAS tariff points

The UCAS tariff is a point system which compares a wide range of qualifications to enable universities to operate a fairer decision-making process when it comes to making offers. You can find the tariff value of your qualifications using the UCAS tariff calculator on its website ucas.com

Not all qualifications are included in the tariff, so don’t worry if you can’t find your qualification – if it’s not there, get in touch and we’ll confirm whether we accept it.

Other qualifications

We can consider other relevant and equivalent UK/EU/international qualifications on an individual basis.

WHERE WE ARE

UCA Canterbury

New Dover Road

Canterbury

Kent CT1 3AN

+44 (0) 1227 817302

UCA Farnham

Falkner Road

Farnham

Surrey GU9 7DS

+44 (0) 1252 722441

UCA Epsom

Ashley Road

Epsom

Surrey KT18 5BE

+44 (0) 1372 728811

Maidstone Television Studios

Vinters Park

Maidstone

Kent ME14 5NZ

+44 (0) 1622 620151

OPEN DAYS AT UCA

YOU NEED TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT

There’s nothing quite like the first time you see Canterbury’s high-ceiling studios, Epsom’s classic Jacquard loom, or Farnham’s futuristic Virtual Production suite.

Tour incredible facilities, experience our unique creative community, meet future tutors, and picture yourself living and studying at one of our beautiful campuses.

You’ll get a real taste of what life is like at UCA, and the chance to ask students, graduates, and staff what makes this place so special to them.

PLANNING YOUR OPEN DAY

The best way to visit us is to book online. It’s free and easy to do, and you’ll be able to register for any talks you’d like to go to.

You can hear more about courses, what student life is like here, how to prepare your portfolio, how to fund your studies, and more.

You can also go on tours at each campus –Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham – as well as visit the accommodation to see where you’d like to live.

Book your spot uca.ac.uk/opendays

Chat to a student uca.ac.uk/chat

Explore online talks uca.ac.uk/live

This prospectus is a collaborative project between University for the Creative Arts and the following companies and individuals.

Creative Direction and Design

Hingston Studio

Print

Belmont Press Ltd

Campus photography

Liz Carrington, Katie Chuter, Iain Crockart, Teresa Dale, Sam Garner, Michelle Marshall, James Newton, Chris Russell, Chris Tuck, Yousef Al-Nasser, Adam Thomas, Trudi Fisher

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this prospectus at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes.

For the latest updates please visit our website uca.ac.uk or email enquiries@uca.ac.uk

Student work

Students of UCA, credited where appropriate

THINK CREATIVE INDUSTRIES THINK UCA

Student cover models

Ace, Alan, Alexandra, Cappe, Chloe, Coffee, Harvey, Kaylighe, Naomi, Olivia, Rajandeep, Rhianna, Vincent, Ubaid, Xinyi

@unicreativearts

@uniforcreativearts

@universitycreativearts

@universitycreativearts

@universityforthecreativearts

THINK

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES THINK UCA